Reh Center honors Waddington businessman

WADDINGTON  From its walls peppered with paintings and watercolors by local artists, to its Black Forest crepe topped with chocolate mousse and maraschino cherries, Artworks Creperie, 2 Main St., has become a unique stop for travelers along Route 37.

Although owner Mark Scott is not an artist, he does recognize the importance of investing in local talent  be it the three employees who craft his crepes or the dozens of artists whose works line the walls of his restaurant and gallery.

As far as I know, were the only creperie north of Lake Placid, said Mr. Scott, who also is the town supervisor. I wanted to create a destination that would bring people to Waddington. Not many people know about Waddington. I am noticing more and more that many people who stop here will often ask me where the local real estate office is.

Its not just the tourists that are noticing. Mr. Scott is this years recipient of the Clarkson University Reh Center for Entrepreneurships Entrepreneur of the Year Award, which recognizes a practicing entrepreneur who demonstrates an unwavering commitment to building their small business and supporting their community.

He now is in his fifth year at Artworks Creperie, which has expanded to include a space for live entertainment, Sunday morning breakfast buffets, a summer dinner menu and more space for artists to display their work.

Employees continue to create new sweet and savory crepes, such as vegetable fete, ham and Swiss cheese and apples and cinnamon  Mr. Scotts favorite.

A Russell native, Mr. Scott said he moved to Waddington in 1997 after living in the Binghamton area for more than 12 years.

We decided to move back to the north country because, in my mind, there is no better place to raise children, he said. Its a quiet, safe and rural environment with good schools, clean air and fresh water. When you first drive down Main Street in Waddington and see the St. Lawrence River, its an incredible sight.

It was the river that provided inspiration for Mr. Scotts first business venture, St. Lawrence Boat Tours.

The boat tour company began as a way to invest in the area, he said. I wanted the building fixed up. I wanted to see something good happen and jobs created. Eventually, it became too difficult to keep up. I began searching for business that was year-round, and thats when I came up with the idea for a creperie.

While working on Main Street, Mr. Scott joined a committee comprised of a dozen other residents called the Waddington Redevelopment Association.

The group aimed to revitalize Main Street through private investment and public outreach.

The groups efforts spawned the Clark House project, Waddington Recorder, Waddington Concert Series and gazebo project.

We were trying to engage our elected officials at the time, he said. Thats how I became involved in local government. I started going to all the town board meetings. Eventually, once you start getting that involved, you become part of the process.

After serving on the Town Council for two years, Mr. Scott decided to run for town supervisor. Since he was elected, Mr. Scott said, his main goal has been to bring in economic development.

He will be honored at the Reh Center for Entrepreneurship at Clarkson Universitys third annual Entrepreneur Recognition Dinner beginning at 5 p.m. April 19 at Clarksons Cheel Campus Center.

Marc Compeau, instructor at Clarkson Universitys School of Business, will receive the Entrepreneurs Hero Award at the dinner.

Jeff Taylor, director of the Career Center at Clarkson, will receive the Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award. Alumni Randy Rothe, chief executive officer of ViTEX, Mooresville, N.C., will be inducted into the Clarkson Alumni Entrepreneur Hall of Fame.

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